World Reviewer rating

Hohenzollern Bridge

In the shadow of its most well known sight, the Cathedral, which is a spectacular accomplishment 600 years in the making, lies something that will attest to the good of humankind.

The locks of love, so many in fact that the Hohenzollern Bridge’s railing is barely noticeable in many places. I’m not a math wiz and have never been good at guessing how many beans are in the jar but I would be willing to bet that there are at least a million locks on that bridge if not more. And when you think you couldn’t possibly fit another one on, look up and you will see someone’s tribute of love 10 to 15 feet above your head. Whether each lock is placed here as a token of love or just as a thing to do while in Köln, the fact that all those people took the time to choose a lock, in many cases got it engraved and then picked a place to lock it on helped me regain my faith in humankind. The downside is that the locks have added so much weight over the years that Deutsche Bahn the bridge’s operator is threatening to cut the locks off. If you’re in Köln make sure to walk the bridge before this happens, it’s really a sight to see.